BILL NUMBER: AB 2252	CHAPTERED  07/24/00

	CHAPTER   191
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   JULY 24, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   JULY 21, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   JULY 6, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   JUNE 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 19, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 23, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Maldonado

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to amend Sections 22002, 22553, 22555, and 22702 of, and to
add Section 22002.5 to, the Public Utilities Code, relating to
aviation.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2252, Maldonado.  Aviation:  spaceports.
   The California Airport District Act provides for the formation of
airport districts to develop airports and air navigation facilities.

   This bill would amend the act to additionally authorize airport
districts to provide and maintain spaceports and landing places for
space reentry traffic, and would define various terms.  The bill
would make related changes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 22002 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   22002.  The purpose of this part is to facilitate the formation of
intercity and county airport districts having responsibility for the
development of airports, spaceports, and air navigation facilities,
the objective being to encourage airport and spaceport development by
communities and to distribute the cost uniformly among all who
benefit.
  SEC. 2.  Section 22002.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   22002.5.  As used in this part, the following terms have the
following meanings:
   (a) "Launch" means to place a payload on an expendable or reusable
launch vehicle from Earth into a ballistic, suborbital, or orbital
trajectory.  Launch is also a means of placing a commercial, civil,
or military payload into Earth orbit or beyond.  Launch includes all
activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle for
flight, including all processing, servicing, and support activities
that take place at a launch site or at a California mission control
support site for ocean launches.  A launch commences with the arrival
of the launch vehicle and payload at the spaceport.
   (b) "Launch site" means the location on Earth from which a launch
takes place, as defined in a license the United States Secretary of
Transportation issues or transfers under the authority of the
Commercial Space Launch Act (49 U.S.C.A. Sec. 70101 et seq.), and
includes all facilities and support infrastructure related to launch,
reentry, or payload processing.
   (c) "Launch vehicle" means a vehicle used to place, or initiate
the placement of, a payload in the upper atmosphere or outer space.
   (d) "Operation of a launch site" means the conduct of approved
operations at a launch site to support the launching of vehicles and
payloads.
   (e) "Operation of a reentry site" means the conduct of approved
operations at a fixed site on Earth at which a reentry vehicle or its
payload, if any, is intended to land.
   (f) "Payload" means an object, usually, but not necessarily, a
satellite, that a person undertakes to place into the upper
atmosphere or outer space by means of a launch vehicle, including
components of the vehicle specifically designed or adopted to support
that activity.
   (g) "Person" means any individual and any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, or other entity organized or
existing under the laws of any state or nation.
   (h) "Reentry" means the return of any launch vehicle that has been
placed in a ballistic, suborbital, or orbital trajectory, or its
payload, if any, to the Earth.  Reentry includes all activities
involved in the postflight ground operations.  A reentry terminates
when a launch vehicle or payload, if any, has completed its descent
to Earth, is retrieved and secured.
   (i) "Spaceport" means a location from which a space launch or
operation directly associated with a space launch takes place, and a
location at which a reentry vehicle or its payload, if any, is
intended to land.  Those buildings or facilities and any right-of-way
directly associated with the space launch or reentry operations are
considered part of the infrastructure of a spaceport.
  SEC. 3.  Section 22553 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   22553.  A district may do all of the following:
   (a) Sue and be sued, except as otherwise provided by law, in all
actions and proceedings in all courts and tribunals of competent
jurisdiction.
   (b) Adopt a seal and alter it at pleasure.
   (c) Provide and maintain public airports, spaceports, and landing
places for aerial and space reentry traffic.
   (d) Acquire by purchase, condemnation, donation, lease, or
otherwise, real or personal property necessary to the full or
convenient exercise of any of its powers or purposes.
   (e) Improve, construct or reconstruct, lease, furnish or
refurnish, use, repair, maintain, control, sell, or dispose of the
property of the district, including any buildings, structures,
lighting equipment, and all other equipment and facilities necessary
for those purposes.
  SEC. 4.  Section 22555 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   22555.  The board shall make all rules governing the use of the
airports and spaceports, landing places for aerial traffic, and other
aerial facilities of the district that the board determines to be
necessary.
  SEC. 5.  Section 22702 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   22702.  District bonds may be issued and sold pursuant to this
chapter for all of the following purposes:
   (a) Raising money for purchasing real property for airport and
spaceport purposes.
   (b) Building and purchasing buildings or structures including
hangars, or making alterations, additions, or repairs to the
buildings or structures.
   (c) Restoring or rebuilding buildings or structures damaged or
destroyed by fire or other public calamity.
   (d) Supplying buildings, structures, and hangars with furnishings
and necessary apparatus.
   (e) Improving the grounds of airports and spaceports.
   (f) Acquiring and maintaining lighting equipment and all other
equipment, devices, and facilities necessary or convenient for the
airports and spaceports.
   (g) Liquidating any indebtedness incurred for these purposes or
refunding any valid outstanding indebtedness of the district
evidenced by bonds or warrant.
   (h) Paying all costs and expenses incident to the bond election,
including engineering, architectural, legal charges, fiscal agent's
charges and interest during construction and for a period of not to
exceed 12 months after the date of completion of construction.
